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BERKELEY – California Golden Bears head coach Kevin Grimes announced today that the program has added U.S. U-20 national team defender Trevor Haberkorn, who is transferring from Furman. Haberkorn joins Cal after appearing in all 18 games last year for the Furman Paladins as a true freshman at centerback. He garnered honors as a member of the 2013 Top Drawer Soccer Freshman Best XI, was named second team All-Southern Conference and also was a member of the Southern Conference All-Freshman team during the 2013 season.

"Trevor is a tremendous signing for our program,” Grimes said on Thursday afternoon. “He has been involved with our U.S. National youth team program for several years. Trevor has all of the skill and ability to follow in the footsteps of the many great Cal central defenders who have gone on to be drafted and play in Major League Soccer and Europe. His impact on our team will be significant and our coaching staff is really looking forward to further developing his game."

Haberkorn, a native of Keller, Texas, was a five-star player, ranked 12th in the 2013 recruiting class according to Top Drawer Soccer. A member of the IMG Academy Top 150, Haberkorn was ranked the number two defender, and second overall prospect out of the talent-rich state of Texas. While at Furman this past season, he helped guide the Paladins to an 11-5-2 record, scoring one goal and was instrumental in the team’s 10 clean sheets during the season.

A member of the United States youth national team pool since 2008, Haberkorn is currently with the U-20 side competing in the Dallas Cup international tournament. In addition to participating in the January camp with the U-20’s, Haberkorn was capped 15 times in 2012-13 with the U-18’s.

The 6’3” central defender captained his United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Solar Chelsea Academy team during the 2012-13 campaign and was named a 2012 and 2013 Central Conference Super XI player. Additionally, Haberkorn was a USSF Winter Showcase All-Star selection in both 2011 and 2012.

Haberkorn joins eight other new Bears this fall: Paul Salcedo (forward), Marko Helfrich (midfielder), Matt Locklear (defender), Jorge Miranda (defender), Joshua Morton (defender), Ugo Rebecchini (defender), Aravind Sivakumar (midfielder) and Eloi Vasquez (midfielder/forward). Seven of the nine new members of the program are California natives, with four hailing from northern California, three coming from the southern portion of the state, one from Texas and one making the transition to Berkeley from Rome, Italy.

The Golden Bears have a history of central defenders who have gone on to play professionally both in MLS, as well as abroad in Europe. Most recently, the tandem of Steve Birnbaum and Christian Dean were selected second and third overall by D.C. United and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, respectively in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. Other notable former Cal centerbacks that have gone on to play professionally are; A.J. Soares (currently with the New England Revolution), Steve Purdy (spent time with the Los Angeles Galaxy, FC Dallas, Portland Timbers, Chivas USA and 1860 Munich), Tyson Wahl (currently of the Columbus Crew and also previously played for the Kansas City Wizards), Noah Merl (spent time with the San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders when they were in the USL first division), Troy Roberts (played for the Los Angeles Galaxy) and Leo Krupnik (originally drafted by the NY/NJ MetroStars and has played many years in the Israeli Premier League).